TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc.
today announced that it has in-licensed FR229934, an investigational compound
being studied for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) from Fujisawa
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Under the license agreement, TAP has exclusive
rights to develop this compound and market it on a worldwide basis, except for
Japan, South Korea, China and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
FR229934, a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, was discovered at
Fujisawa's research laboratories in Japan and is in preclinical development.
"Along with our currently marketed drug for prostate cancer, Lupron
Depot(R), and the development of UPRIMA(R) for erectile dysfunction, the
in-licensing of FR229934 significantly enhances and builds upon TAP's strong
position in urology," says Thomas Watkins, president of TAP. "Many men with
ED are not being adequately treated with currently available therapies. TAP
is encouraged by the compound's preliminary data, and we believe it has the
potential to help men with ED."
Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to attain and maintain an
erection sufficient for intercourse. Approximately 30 million Americans
suffer from some form of erectile dysfunction.
TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. is a joint venture between Abbott
Laboratories, headquartered in Abbott Park, Ill., and Takeda Chemical
Industries, Ltd. of Osaka, Japan. TAP markets Lupron Depot (leuprolide
acetate for depot suspension) for the palliative treatment of advanced
prostate cancer, management of endometriosis, anemia caused by uterine
fibroids in combination with iron, and central precocious puberty, and
PREVACID(R) (lansoprazole) for the treatment of various acid-related disorders
including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and ulcers. TAP has also
submitted a New Drug Application with the FDA for the cephalosporin antibiotic
SPECTRACEF(TM) (cefditoren pivoxil), and is currently researching UPRIMA
(apomorphine HCl tablets) sublingual for erectile dysfunction.